More than $8,000 in game systems stolen

Thieves reportedly stole more than $8,000 worth of game systems and damaged the GameStop store on Industrial Boulevard early Monday morning.

A report from the Covington Police Department said police were dispatched to the business at 10333 Industrial Blvd. after receiving a call about a burglary. An employee and store manager told police that someone had forcibly entered the business and stolen a number of items.

On a video surveillance tape, at least three males were seen entering the business and then striking the sales counter area with what appeared to be a sledgehammer, and breaking the safe from its cabinets, the report said.

The footage also captured the thieves removing gaming consoles from a storage room and stacking them at the rear door of the business, with the assistance of a fourth person removing items from the store, the report said.

According to the report, a CPD officer who entered the business found merchandise and items from the counter, as well as debris from damage to the sales counter, strewn on the floor.

The officer went to the back of the store, to the "employees-only" section, and found a large amount of paperwork and other items, from what appeared to be the cash drawer, the frame of the safe, and its contents, on the floor.

In this section there was also access to an additional storage room, the report said, where video gaming consoles as well as other valuable items were taken.

Among items stolen were 18 X-Box 360s, valued at $4,500; eight PlayStation 3s, valued at $2,240; and 7 Wii U's, valued at $1,925. The report listed the value of the items stolen at $8,665, but also noted that numerous other items were missing, and an inventory would be needed before a final tally.

"It was obvious offenders made entry to Game Stop through a hole that was created from an empty business next door," the report stated. "The offenders pried open the front door and made entry. After entering the vacant empty space, the offenders made their way to the bathroom area at the rear of the store. While in the room, the offenders knocked a hole in the wall and entered Game Stop from that room. The offenders also cut the phone lines, which disabled the alarm."

A black skull cap left at the vacant business was taken into evidence.